 |
|
Members of Chinese men's football team before the Beijing Olympic Games men's football Group C first round match against New Zealand at Shenyang Olympic Stadium in Olympic co-host city Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 7, 2008. [Ren Yong/Xinhua]
|
China won their first point and scored their first goal in Olympic Games and World Cup as they drew with Olympian debutant New Zealand 1-1 in their Group C match of the men's soccer tournament in Shenyang on Thursday.
Subsititute forward Dong Fangzhuo, who plays for Manchester United, scored a last-gasp goal with a headar with two minutes before the final whistle.
China scored none in their only World Cup appearance in 2002 and previous Olympics experience in the 1988 Seoul Games, where they conceded a total of five goals.
 |
|
Dong Fangzhuo of China celebrates after a goal during the Beijing Olympic Games men's football Group C first round match against New Zealand at Shenyang Olympic Stadium in Olympic co-host city Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 7, 2008. China and New Zealand played out a 1-1 draw in the match on Thursday. [Xie Huanchi/Xinhua]
|
New Zealand broke the deadlock in the 53rd minute, when midfielder Craig Henderson chested the ball down near the Chinese box and flicked it to a running Jeremy Brockie, who duly slammed it into the back of the net.
The first half of the match featured a number of fruitless tit-for-tat attacks and is marred by a series of fouls. New Zealand defense mainstay Steven Old, who plays in the Australian A-League, was sent off after receiving his second yellow card because of a hand ball in the 39th minute.
 |
|
Zheng Zhi (L) of China fights for the ball with New Zealand player Aaron Scott during the Beijing Olympic Games men's football Group C first round match at Shenyang Olympic Stadium in Olympic co-host city Shenyang, capital of northeast China's Liaoning Province, Aug. 7, 2008. China and New Zealand played out a 1-1 draw in the match on Thursday. [Xie Huanchi/Xinhua]
|